Rotary steam-engine



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R. L. HENDERSON. ROTARY `STEAM ENGINE.

No. 536,348. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

l l imag UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT L. HENDERSON, OF VAUGHAN, TEXAS.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,348, datedMarch-26, 1895.

Application 'filed August 22,1894.. Serial No. 521,012. (No model.)

. increase in power over other engines worked under the same head orpressure of steam.V

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is toprovide a simple, economical and durable steam engine of the rotary typehaving few working parts, but one which shall run easily and steadilyand will develop considerable power. A

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz-Figu re 1 is a perspective view of arotary steam engine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a central vertical sectional view longitudinally thereof. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view on the line :1c-:1: of Fig. 2. Fig. Ltis aside elevation of the engine with one of the cap or head plates removed.Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the oscillating or rotary steamvalve. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line fy-y of Fig. 2.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, 1 designates an engine supportingframe or stand, at one end of which is suitably supported the steamcylinder 2. The steam cylinder 2, is inclosed at opposite sides by theremovable cap or head plates 3, one of which is extended above one endof the supporting frame or stand l, to form a support for the cylinder.The said steam cylinder 2, is circularly bored to form a circular steamchamber 4, within which is mounted to revolve the rotary piston block 5.The rotary piston block 5, is mounted on the inner end of the driveshaft 6, and is provided with a rounded cam projection 7, the outermostpoint or face of which travels in close contact with the inner walls ofthe cylinder 2, or at least the steam chamber 4, inclosed thereby, andsaid outermost point or face of the rounded cam projection 7, has fittedtherein a packing strip 8, that forms a steam tight joint with the innerwalls of the cylinder so that steam cannot pass between said camprojection and the said inner walls of the cylinder, and the oppositesides of the rotary piston block 5, are also provided with suitable sidepacking 9, fitted therein and working against the inner faces of theopposite cap or head plates 3, to

lform steam tight joints.

The rotary piston block 5, is caused to rotate within the cylinderbymeans of the pressure or head of live steam directed against theshoulder of the rounded cam projection 7, thereof, and as the saidpiston rotates the cam periphery thereof rides under the lower edge ofthe curved abutment plate 10, which is always normally in contact withthe periphery of said piston and serves to separatethelive from theexhaust steam within the upper part of the cylinder during the operationof the engine. The curved abutment plate 10, is arranged to work up anddown within the upper part of the steam cylinder between the live steamport 1l, which admits live steam into the cylinder at one side of saidplate, and the exhaust steam port 12, which pierces the top of thecylinder and carries off the exhaust steam from the opposite side of theabutment plate, and said abutment plate is adapted to be moved by therotating or revolving piston up intothe curved or segmental abutmentrecess or pocket 13, formed in the top extension 14, of the cylinder,through which top extension 14, the steam port 12, extends to carry theexhaust steam into the open air.

The opposite side edges of the self adj usting abutment plate 10, areguided to Work in the curved guide grooves 15 formed in the inner sidesor faces of the opposite cap or head plates 3, said grooves holding theabutment plate steady in its up and down movement, while at the sametime forming steam tight joints at opposite sides of the cylinder sothat said abutment plate will completely cutoff the live andv exhauststeam from each other in the upper part of the cylinder, whereby IOO theengine will regularly receive and exhaust the steam at every completerevolution of the piston. The self adjusting abutment plate 10, hasattached to both sides and its upper end one'end of the rock arms 15??,Which have a movement Within the arm recesses 16 formed in oppositesides of the top extension 14, of the steam cylinder and inclosed by oneof the cap or head plates 3. The said rock arms 151?, are connected attheir ends to both ends of a rock shaft 17, journaled in a transversebearing at the top of the cylinder and having mounted upon one outerend, projecting through the stuffing box 18, a bell crank lever 19, toone arm of which is attached the retractile spring 20, also connected toa fixed point of attachment and providing means for quickly closing theabutment plate 10, down onto the periphery of the piston When the camprojection of the latter has been carried beyond such plate. The otherarm of said bell crank lever 19, has pivotally connected thereto one endof a connecting rod or pitman 21, the other end of Which is pivotallyconnected to the crank arm 22, litted to one end of the valve stem orshaft 23.

The valve stem or shaft 23, has mounted thereon a rotary or oscillatingvalve plug 24, which lits snugly Within the cylindrical valve casing 25,formed on the upper portion of the steam cylinder 2. The rotary oroscillating valve plug 24, is provided with a peripherally `cut-awayportion 25, that is adapted to connect with the live steam port 11,which opens into the casing 25, and the live steam inlet opening 26,also opening into the said valve casing 25, and having connected theretothe live steam pipe that delivers the live steam into the engine fromthe boiler. When turned in one direction the said rotary or oscillatingvalve will connect the live steam port and the inlet opening to providefor admitting steam into the cylinder, and when turned in an oppositedirection the unrecessed portion of the valve plug Will cut olf thesupply of steam from the cylinder.

From the above it is thought that the operation of the engine Will bereadily apparent, it being obvious that when the live steam is admittedinto the cylinder, the same presses `against the shoulder of the camprojection of the piston and causes the latter to rotate Within thecylinder. The live steam continues to be admitted into the cylinderuntil the cam projection of. the piston reaches a point near totheexhaust port 12, at which time the abutment plate Will have been raisedup into the recess or pocket 13, therefor, until the valve plug 24, hasbeen turned sufficiently far by means of the connections described tocut od the live steam from the cylinder. This movement of the severalparts of the engine gives the exhaust steam an opportunity to escapethrough the exhaust port, and the moment the cam projection of thepiston passes beyond the abutment plate, the latter in respouse to itsown gravity and the tension of the spring 20, will quickly close downonto theperiphery of the piston. This movement of the abutment platethrows the valve 2l, open and ad mitslive steam into the cylinder, Therevolution of the piston 5, imparts motion to the drive shaft 6, so thatmotion may be communicated to any machinery to be driven by the engine,and said drive shaft extends beyond one side of the cylinder through theside bearing opening 26, formed centrally in one of the cap or headplates 3, and fitted exteriorly to this cap or head plate andsurrounding the shaftis a bearing collar 27, which removablyaccommodates therein the opposed bearing rings 28, that are providedWithacircular series of aligned spindle openings 29, to loosely receivethe reduced spindles of the freely revolnble bearing rollers 30, thatare arranged in a circular series around the shaft 6, and form a rollerbearing therefor, such bearing materially reducing y the friction onsaid shaft and thereby insuring the easy and steady running of theengine.

The bearing collar 27, has fitted tothe outer end thereof the stuffingbox 31, through which projects the shaft 6, and which serves to confinethe roller bearingin such collar. Beyond the stuffing box 3l, the outerend of the shaft 6, is arranged to work in the sectional bearing box 32,mounted for adjustment in the vertically slotted bearing bracket 33,supported on the stand 1. The sectional bearing box 32,is provided withthe opposite slide tongue 34, engaging in the inner guide grooves 35, ofthe vertically slotted bracket 33, and the upper member of said bearingbox is adjusted onto the drive shaft by means of the top adjusting screw36, workingabove the bearing box in the cap plate 37, of said bracket,and an upward adjustment of said bearing box to properly align the shaftand to take up Wear is effected by means of an adjusting Wedge 38, whichfits in a wedge shaped or tapered opening 39, formed transversely in thebracket 33, below and communicating With the vertical slot thereof.

From 'the above it will be obvious that the herein described engine isprovided with novel and efficient means for insuring a steady andpowerful operation, and it Will be understood'that suitable packingother than that described may be properly fitted if found necessary onany part of the engine, and other changes in the form, proportion andthe minor details of construction may be resorted to without departingfrom the principle or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, a steam cylinder provided With a curved abutmentrecess leading off from the top thereof, and live and exhaust steamports opening thereinto at opposite sides of the recess or pocket, asuitable valve ICO port, the rotary piston block having a camprojection, a movable curved abutment plate arranged to work in therecess or pocket over the piston block, a suitably arranged rock shaft,rock arms attached at one end to said rock shaft and at their other endsto said abut ment plate, a bell crank lever attached to one end of saidrock shaft, a spring connected to one arm of said bell crank lever, anda connection between the other arm of said bell crank lever and saidvalve, substantially as set forth.

2. In arotary steam engine, the combination of the steam cylinderprovided with a curved abutment recess leading 0E `from the top thereof,opposite live steam and exhaust ports opening into the same at oppositesides of said recess, and a valve casing communicating with the livesteam port, the rotary piston block having a cam projection, the rotaryor oscillating cut ofi valve, the stem or shaft of which is providedwith a crank arm at one end, a movable curved abutment plate' arrangedto work in said abutment recess and having its opposite side edgesguided in curved grooves in the inner sides of the cylinder, a suitablyarranged rock shaft having a bell crank lever at one end, rock armsattached at one end to said rock shaft and at their other ends to saidabutment plate, a retractile spring connected at one end to one arm ofsaid bell crank lever, and a connecting rod connected at one end to theother arm of said bell crank lever and at its other end to the rock armof the valve stem or shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT L. HENDERSON.

Witnesses:

A. P. TARL'roN, T. L. FREEMAN.

